Qasim: Results prove people reject allegations against gov

Qasim Ibrahim, the leader of Jumhoory Party (JP), says the results of the recent elections show the people reject the various allegations being made against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his administration.

Qasim made the remark in a statement on the social media platform X, congratulating the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) on its landslide victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

Qasim cited the sincere hard work of President Muizzu as the reason behind PNC’s victory in both the 2023 presidential elections and the recent parliamentary elections.

The PPM-PNC coalition had backed former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as its presidential candidate up until the very last minute. The coalition produced President Muizzu as its candidate after the Supreme Court rejected Yameen’s candidacy due to a money laundering conviction – which was overturned last week.

President Muizzu had repeatedly promised to free Yameen during his presidential campaign. The coalition kept an empty chair for Yameen in all campaign events, as a mark of love and respect for the coalition’s then-leader.

President Muizzu’s rivals accused him of securing his election victory not on his own merit, but on the back of people’s support for Yameen.

 In his statement on early Monday, Qasim said he did not see PNC using an empty chair or a specific person’s photo during its parliamentary campaign.

މިއަދު 21 އޭޕްރީލް 2024 ގައި ބޭއްވި، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީސް އިންތިޚާބުގައި، ޕީ. އެން.ސީ އިން ހޯއްދެވި ސްޕަރމެޖޯރިޓީއަކީ އެޕާޓީގެ ރައީސް، ރައީސުލް ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ އޮނަރަބަލް ޑރ މުޙައްމަދު މުޢިއްޒަށް @MMuizzu ދިވެހީންގެ މެދުގައި އޮތް އިތުބާރާއި، ޔަޤީންކަމުގެ އަލިގަދަ ހެއްކެކެވެ.

މި… pic.twitter.com/HiLPgbabnS

— Qasim Ibrahim (@qasimibrahim) April 21, 2024

“The full support and clear majority the people gave to President Dr. Muizzu today proves the victory wasn’t produced by keeping an empty chair for a specific individual,” he said.

He also thanked President Muizzu deciding not to produce a candidate against him from the PNC for the Maamigili seat.

Qasim said the people showed their full support for President Muizzu in every sense of the word.

The preliminary results of Sunday’s elections shows the PNC secured a supermajority in the Parliament, with 68 out of 93 seats.